Shipping container



y 1943- F. DITCHFIELD 2,318,763

SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed July 9, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 11, 1943. F. DITCHFIELD SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed July 9, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gig 1111111171110"! y 1943- F. DlTCHFlELD SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed July 9, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 iIiHiiI/I77iii7iiM/iiiiiiiiiiwii i :1"

'Iiiiiiiiiiiiiqlllli7iiii7iiiiiiiiii Patented May 11, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHIPPING CONTAINER Frank Ditchfield, Cleveland, Ohio, ass'ignor to The Youngstown Steel Door Gompany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July19, 1940, .Serial No. 344,545

11 Claims.

This invention relates to shipping containers "and more particularlyto-containers forthetransmitation of bulk materials.

it 'i's'anobject of this inventionto "provide containers for shipment of bulk materials having closures for the discharge openings of the containers capable of controlling the flow of "material and also of quickly releasing the material to permit rapid discharge thereof.

A further object is to provide containers 'for the shipment of bulk materials of varying sizes having closures for the dischargeopenings of the containers constrained to initial "sliding movement for controlling the flow of material-ofsmall size where desired and capable of swinging-movement to permit a rapiddischarge of material.

A further object is to provide containers for shipment of bulk materials "having closures -for the discharge openings of the containers -constrainedto slidingmovement during final closing movement'wherein sliding movement of-the ,ciosures is automatically insured.

A further *object is to'provide containers for the shipment of bulk materialsghavingclosures for the discharge openingscf the-containerscon- -strained to sliding movement for 'a part --of their traverand havingswinging an'd'sliding movement for the remainderof their travel, the containers adjacent the discharge openings being con- 'structed and associated with the-closures to "automaticallyinsure sliding movement at the 'end of the swinging and sliding movement.

With these'and other objects in view which will become clear-as the description proceedsthe "invention comprises the novel-structure and-combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly'pointed out and de'finedin the appended claims.

In thedrawingsforming part of this specification:

Fig. '1 is a view partlyin section and partly in elevationof the lower portion -of a container embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view'taken'along line 2-"2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction-of the arrows.

F g. 3 isa vertical section taken 'on line -3-3 o'fFig. 2.

Fig.6 is a vertical section taken-on'1ine'5--5 'o'f Fig. 2.

Fig.6 is a horizontal section taken on 1ine'6-'6 of Fig.5.

' "Fig. 7 isa diagrammatical illustration iofthe movement of the closure.

Referring tothe drawings wherein a preferred beyond the slopesheet 1-5.

- opening-inthe container.

embodiment of the invention is illustrated, there is disclosed the lower portion of a shipping container including the discharge opening for the container, -the closure for the discharge opening and the mechanism by means of which the closure is actuated. The container, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 ll, embodies the side sheets H and 42, corner angles 13 and 14 to 'which theside sheets are secured as bymeans of rivets, and slope sheets 15 and 165 converging downwardly and spaced apart, as more clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to provide in part a discharge opening H. These slope sheets are secured as byimeans of rivets 18 and t9 t0 the side sheets lllan'd l2. The lower :portion of the container is reinforced by meansof angle members 26 and 2 I preferably riveted .to the side sheets and by means of angle members '22 and 23 secured to and extending between "the .corner angles :13 and I4. "The angle members .20, it, Z2 and 23 provide-a rectangular base for the container.

'Thelower slopesheet .l 5, asimore clearly shown in Fig. '1 of the drawings, extends downwardly To'thelower margin of the latter slope sheet "there is secured as by means of rivets an angle memberldihaving 'one leg 25 extending "below the :slope sheet in parallel relationshipto the slope sheet 1:5. .As more clearly appears firom Eig. iof the drawings, :the anglememberld extendsbetween the side sheets II and I2 andthe ends ofithe leg 25 are coped, as indicated at a; b,.c, .d..and e'topermit of the attachment of brackets 26 and 21;hereinafter "more fullydescribed. Convergingslope sheets 28 and 29 cooperate with theslopesheetsfi and J6 to complete "the-discharge opening 11. *Each of the slope sheetsLZB andzdiisformed with a :fiange 33 *secured respectively to :the .side sheets H and 12 of the container. Slope sheet .28 is, provided with an upper flange .36 fastened to the leg .25

and a lower flange 32- secured ltothecslope sheet '15. Similarly, slopesheet ZSIhasupperiand lower flanges 31 and 32 .secured respectively .to the leg 25 and slope-sheet [6.

The side slope :sheets :28 and L29 are vflanged outwardly, :as indicated at .34 and 35, 'these flanges being alined with Ithe cope in .the leg:=25 of the angle member -24 indicated byrtheline;de. By this construction the material in the container is guided during discharge throughithe The discharge opening ii is controlled by means of -adoor -3 5-which are=more clearly=shown in Figfil oi the drawinga'is preferablydisposed in closed position in parallel relationship to the slope sheet |5. The door 36 is preferably formed of sheet metal and is provided with a flange 3! at its upper margin which overlaps the leg of angle member 24 when the door is in closed posi tion and cooperates with an angle 38 secured to the leg 25 to exclude the elements. Flanges 39 and 49 are formed along the side marginal portions of the door. These flanges when the door is in closed position overlap the outwardly extending flanges 34 and of the side slope sheets 28 and 29 as more clearly appears in Fig. 4 of The door is reinforced along its jj the drawings.

top and side margins by means of angle members 46 fastened to the slope sheet 6 in order to 1:

weather-proof the lower edge of the door and prevent the escape of material from the container. These function of the cooperating Z-bars 44 and 46 are aided by the cooperation between the lower edge of the door and the Z-shaped member 46 as more clearly appears from Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Weather-proofing of the side edges of the door 36 is secured by the relationship between the flanges 39 and 49 provided on the door and the outwardly extending flanges 34 and 35 of the side slope sheets 28 and 29. This weather-proofing is had by the engagement between the door and the edges of the flanges 34 and 35 and by the relationship between the door flanges 39 and 49 and angle members 4'! and 49 fastened to the outwardly extending flanges 34 and 35.

According to the invention, the door in its initial opening and final closing movements is constrained to sliding movement so that controlled discharge of smaller particles of material may be secured. Resistance to outward pressure on the lower portion of the closure by the material in the container is obtained by. means of substantially Z-shaped members 49 and 59 fastened as by means of rivets to the side slope sheets 28 and 29 and cooperating substantially Z-shaped members 5| and 52 fastened to the lower corners of the door.

The Z-shaped member 52 is retained between the Z-shaped member 56 and a channel shaped member 53 extendingbetween and securedto the member 56 and the flange 35 of the slope sheet 29. The Z-shaped member 5| on the opposite side of the door is retained by a similar construction.

The invention provides mechanism for actuating the door. To this end the brackets 26 and 21 are secured as by means of rivets to the side sheets H and I2 of the container. These brackets comprise attaching flanges 54 and 55 and attaching flanges 56 and 51.. Intermediate these attaching flanges the. side sheets II and 12 are cut away as indicated at 53 and 59 topermit access to the opposite ends of an operating shaft 60. The ends of this shaft extend through elongated openings GI and .62 formed by the flanges 63 and 64 and by the flanges 65 and 66. The flanges 63 and 65 projectfrom inwardly directed flanges 61 and 68 on the brackets 26 and 21 and the flanges 64 and 66 project from inwardly directed flanges 69 and 10 provided on the brackets. The flanges 61 and 68 are formed with teeth H and 12 and the inwardly directed flanges 69 and i0 form runways l3 and 14. e V g The shaft 60 swingably supports the door 36 which is mounted upon the shaft by means of bearings 15 and T6 fastened to the door. Pinions l1 and 18 arranged to mesh with the teeth II and 12 on the brackets 26 and 21 are secured upon the shaft for rotation therewith. The shaft 66 carries rollers 79 and 86 rotatably mounted thereon and seated upon the runways 14 and 15.

To open the door 36 a crank may he slipped upon either end of the shaft 60 in order to impart rotation thereto. lhe shaft is rotated so that the pinions I! and 1'8 will move along the inwardly directed flanges 6'1 and 68 of the brackets by reason of the meshing of the pinions with the teeth (I and 12 formed on these flanges.

This movement of the shaft carries the door to which it is secured by the bearings 15 and 16 with it. During the initial movement of the door, however, it is constrained to sliding movement by the cooperation between the flanges 39 and 46 on the door 36 and the angles 41 and 48 fastened to the flanges 34 and 35 of the slope sheets 23 and 29. Control of the initial movement of the door is thereby secured and where the load in the container is formed of materials of small size this control of the door movement provides control of the discharge of the load. As a consequence, any desired quantity of the load may be deposited at any indicated place since the flow of material from the container may be cut off at will.

Continued opening movement of the door disengages the door from the Z-shaped members 49 and 59 whereupon the rush of material from the container swings the door about the shaft so that rapid discharge of the material is obtained. The angularity of the door relative to the open; ing depends upon the engagement between the flanges 39 and 49 with the angles 41 and 48 and .the position of the shaft 60.

To close the door the shaft 6| is rotated 'in the opposite direction. During the closing movement of the door it is engaged by the angles 41 and 48 so that as the shaft moves downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawings, these angles cause the door to swing about the shaft and assume a position which will insure sliding engagement between the Z-bar members 5| and 52 on the door with the Z-shaped members 49 and 59 on the slope sheets 28 and 29 during final closing movement of the door. When closed the door is held against the thrust'of the material in the container by the Z-shaped members '49 and so.

The movement of the door in opening and closing direction is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. '7 of the drawings. The door and shaft are shown in closed position infull lines and are indicated by the reference'character A. The

door and shaft are illustrated by the dash'an'd single dotlines after the door has completed its initial sliding movement, the door and the corresponding position of the shaft at this time being shown at B. The door is then disengaged from the guide means which are no;longer capable of preventing swinging movement of the door about the shaft. Continued opening movement of the shaft and door is accompanied by swinging movement of the latter about the shaft,' the degreeof swinging movement being determined by the position of the shaft and the' angles fl and 48. As the shaft moves from B to C the door has swungto C and when the shaft-has moved to D where it lies above the angles! and 48, the door is swung to its full openpositionatD.

V As the load is discharged the door'3lwill swing in closing direction about the shaft 6| until it assumes a vertical position. The shaft 'is then rotated so that it moves downwardly as viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawingscarrying the door with it. As the door proceeds to closed position its engagement with the angles '41 and 48 will cause it to swing about the shaft and automatically to assume the position shown by the dot and single dash lines. This insures engagement of the door with the Z-shaped means 59 and 50 as the shaft continues its downward movement.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes be comprehended within this invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A shipping container for bulk materials comprising a base, converging slope sheets spaced apart to provide a discharge opening above the base of the container, a closure for said discharge opening, means including a shaft upon which said closure is swingably mounted for actuating said closure and cooperating means on said container and closure above said base constraining said closure to sliding movement during initial opening and final closing movements, said shaft moving bodily during said sliding movement of said closure, said closure and actuating means being at all times above the base of said container.

2. A shipping container for bulk materials comprising opposed walls, downwardly converging slope sheets secured to and extending between said wall, a member secured to one of said slope sheets in spaced relation to the other of said slope sheets, inwardly converging slope sheets secured to said opposed walls, said latter slope sheets extending between and being fastened to said member and said downwardly extending slope sheet spaced from said member, all of said slope sheets defining a discharge opening, means secured to said inwardly converging slope sheets beyond said discharge opening, a swingably mounted closure for said discharge opening, said means engaging and supporting said closure against pressure of the material in said container and means for actuating said closure.

3. A shipping container for bulk materials having a discharge opening, a closure for said discharge opening, bodily movable means swingably mounting said closure, means on said container constraining said closure to sliding movement during initial opening and final closing movements, guide, means on said container for supporting the lower portion of said closure against the thrust of the material in said container, said closure being capable of swinging movement when disengaged from said guide means, said first mentioned means swinging said closure about said bodily movable means during closing movement thereof into position to engage said guide means.

i. A shipping container for bulk materials having a base, a discharge opening above the base of said container, a closure for said opening, a creeping shaft, said closure being swingably mounted upon said shaft, means for operating said shaft and means on said container above said base constraining said closure to sliding movement during initial opening movement of said closure, said shaft moving bodily during said sliding movement of said closure, said closure and operating means being at all times above the base of said container.

5. A shipping container for bulk materials having a discharge opening, a closure for said opening, a creeping shaft, said closure being swingably mounted upon said shaft, means for operating said shaft, means on said container engaging said closure during closing movement toswing said closure about said shaft 'to said discharge opening, said means maintaining said closure against said discharge opening during the final closing of said closure.

6. A shipping container for bulk materials having a discharge opening, a closure for said discharge opening, means swingably mounting said closure, said means moving bodily in the opening and closing movements of said closure, and means on said container for swinging said closure about said first mentioned means to said discharge opening during bodily movement of said first mentioned means.

7. A shipping container for bulk materials having a discharge opening, a closure for said opening, a creeping shaft, said closure being swingably mounted upon said shaft, means for operating said shaft, means on said container restraining said shaft to straight line movement during opening and closing movements of said closure, means on said container for swinging said closure about said shaft to said discharge opening during closing movement thereof and before said closure reaches its final closed position, said latter means constraining said closure to sliding movement during final closing movement thereof.

8. A shipping container for bulk materials having a discharge opening, a closure for said opening, a creeping shaft, said closure being swingably mounted upon said shaft, means for operating said shaft, means on said container restraining said shaft to straight line movement during opening and closing movements of said closure, means on said container for swinging said closure about said shaft to said discharge opening during closing movement thereof and before said closure reaches its final closed position, said latter means constraining said closure to sliding movement during final closing movement thereof and means for securing said closure against the thrust of the material in said container when said closure is closed.

9. A shipping container for bulk materials having a discharge opening, a closure for said discharge opening, means swingably mounting said closure, said means moving bodily in the opening and closing movements of said closure, and means on said container for swinging said closure about said first mentioned means to said discharge opening during bodily movement of said first mentioned means, and means disposed beyond said discharge opening for supporting the lower portion of said closure against the pressure of the material in said container when said closure is closed.

10. A shipping container for bulk materials having a discharge opening, a closure for said discharge opening, means swingably mounting said closure, said means moving bodily in the opening and closing movements of said closure, and means on said container for swinging said closure about said first mentioned means to said discharge opening during bodily movement of said first mentioned means and before saidiclosure reaches its final closed position, said second mentioned means constraining said closure to motion of translation during final closing movement thereof.

11. A shipping container for bulk materials having a discharge opening, a closure forsaid discharge opening, means swingably mounting said closure, said means moving bodily in the opening and closing movements of said closure, and means on said container for swinging said closure about said first mentioned means to said discharge opening during bodily movement of said first mentioned means and before said closure reaches its final closed position, said second mentioned means constraining said closure to motion of translation during final closing movemerit thereof, and means for securing said closure against the thrust of the material in said container when said closure is closed.

FRANK DITCHFIELD. 

